As a Scientology watcher, you’ve probably had loads of fun soaking up Tom Cruise in a black turtleneck talking about what an L. Ron Hubbard fan he is in an infamous 9-minute video recorded in 2004 and leaked in 2008. Or you’ve plumbed the depths of the Hubbard death announcement event held at the Hollywood Palladium in 1986, which featured the young David Miscavige, in a full-blown naval getup, announcing Hubbard’s translation to another plane of existence.
You know which videos we’re talking about. They’re foundational in this field, and they make for epic viewing. And chances are you’ve watched them thanks to a person who rarely gets credit for helping to smuggle them out to the public.
We’ve been a huge fan of former Scientology Guardian’s Office operative and Narconon peddler Patty Moher for many years. And we have to say, we’ve kind of taken her for granted, rarely writing about her and her amazing exploits. By her own reckoning, she went from one of the “worst of the worst” soldiers for Scientology’s spy corps to having an epic loss of faith and then becoming one of the best leakers of inside information and videos about Scientology ever.
Patty messaged us recently after she came across a video from 2008 at the height of the Anonymous phenomena, when she gave a talk in Boston about Scientology’s secrets. That motivated us to finally give Patty her due, and so we told her we not only wanted to post the video, but we wanted to record a conversation with her.
Today, we’re releasing the eighth episode of our podcast to our paid subscribers at Substack. You should receive it presently at your email inbox if you’re on the list.
We hope you enjoy the hour we spent with Patty, whose story is one we should have highlighted long before now.
Not a paid subscriber? Well, we have something for you, too. Last week’s episode was with Geoff Levin, our Scientology celebrity expert. In the weeks before, we talked to Pete Griffiths, Sunny Pereira, Jeffrey Augustine, Claire Headley, and her husband Marc Headley
Those first seven episodes are now free to all of our subscribers, paid and unpaid. All of our podcast episodes can be found here.
Here’s the video that Patty recently found again, recorded in 2008 in Boston…
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Tonight: Robert Burnham Jr gets his due
A reminder that tonight we’ll be at Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona to attend a special event to honor former Lowell astronomer Robert Burnham Jr.
We wrote previously about the small journey that led us here. And we’re told that today, Flagstaff’s mayor has proclaimed Robert Burnham Jr Day in his fair town.
If you can’t be in Flagstaff for the event, you’ll be able to watch it live on the observatory’s YouTube channel. Your proprietor has been asked to say some words.
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“Public must like to be fooled. They’re always paying con men of some kind or another. There must be some real value in having hope shot up to the moon in the stock market because those birds are very often paid off heavily. You could reevaluate the society on the basis of what I’ve given you. Yes, you could say, ‘Well, the society makes mistakes in this direction. Yes, the society is lied to.’ Well, I don’t think the society makes mistakes in this direction. That’s a new thought, isn’t it?” — L. Ron Hubbard, August 13, 1964
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“SHERIFF SPENCE: Mitch Spence came back with a wanted poster published by 100 Substantial Citizens of Las Vegas, Mar 24, 1881. If you were there then, run it out fast!” — The Commodore, August 13, 1970
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“We get it — there’s no need to repeat your opinion over and over again about ‘Skype auditing is squirrel’ — we have noted your opinion, everyone else has as well, you can seriously stop being critical now and just do your best at whatever it is you do. No need to put others down repeatedly.”
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1999: Scandal magazine Star reported this week that Scientology celebrity Kirstie Alley is using Scientology courses to teach her fiancee, James Wilder. “The twice-divorced ‘Veronica’s Closet’ star gave a lecture on how to have a successful marriage at a Scientology retreat in Clearwater, Fla. – and hubby-to-be Wilder was front and center, says an insider. ‘Kirstie talked about how to ensure that a Scientologist has a happy and health marriage,’ reveals an insider. ‘She stressed that a Scientologist should marry another Scientologist, because it lessens the risk of divorce. ‘Kirstie’s talk lasted for only about 30 minutes but she unveiled some offbeat Scientology theories about what makes a marriage work. One of her main points was the importance of not having a ‘communication lag. That’s if you and your mate are asked the same question, but take a different amount of time to answer it. Kirstie seems to place a lot of importance on that.’ She added that even if a marriage is in trouble, it can be ‘processed’ back to happiness through the teachings of Scientology.”
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“I shook Jim Jones’ hand in the free eats line at Glide Memorial (he was serving) and I also met a man named Fred Lewis who was a friend of my dad’s. Fred lost 28 family members at Jonestown.”
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Full Court Press: What we’re watching at the Underground Bunker
Criminal prosecutions:
— Danny Masterson charged for raping three women: Trial scheduled for October 11, pretrial conference August 17.
— ‘Lafayette Ronald Hubbard’ (a/k/a Justin Craig), aggravated assault, plus drug charges: Last hearing was on January 18, referred to grand jury. Additional charges also referred to grand jury after January 5 assault while in jail.
— Jay and Jeff Spina, Medicare fraud: Jay sentenced to 9 years in prison. Jeff’s sentencing to be scheduled.
— Rizza Islam and other family members, Medi-Cal fraud: Readiness hearing scheduled for August 22 in Los Angeles
— Yanti Mike Greene, Scientology private eye accused of contempt of court: Found guilty of criminal and civil contempt.
Civil litigation:
— Baxter, Baxter, and Paris v. Scientology, alleging labor trafficking: Complaint filed April 28 in Tampa federal court, Scientology moving to compel arbitration. Plaintiffs filing amended complaint on August 2.
— Valerie Haney v. Scientology: Forced to ‘religious arbitration.’ Selection of arbitrators underway. Next court hearing: February 2, 2023.
— Chrissie Bixler et al. v. Scientology and Danny Masterson: Appellate court removes requirement of arbitration on January 19, case remanded back to Superior Court. Stay in place, next status hearing October 25. Scientology petitioning US Supreme Court over appellate ruling.
— Brian Statler Sr v. City of Inglewood: Third amended complaint filed, trial set for December 6.
— Author Steve Cannane defamation trial: New trial ordered after appeals court overturned prior ruling.
— Chiropractors Steve Peyroux and Brent Detelich, stem cell fraud: Lawsuit filed by the FTC and state of Georgia in August, now in discovery phase.
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THE PROSECUTION OF DANNY MASTERSON
We first broke the news of the LAPD’s investigation of Scientology celebrity Danny Masterson on rape allegations in 2017, and we’ve been covering the story every step of the way since then. At this page we’ve collected our most important links, including our four days in Los Angeles covering the preliminary hearing and its ruling, which has Danny facing trial and the potential sentence of 45 years to life in prison.
After the success of their double-Emmy-winning, three-season A&E series ‘Scientology and the Aftermath,’ Leah Remini and Mike Rinder continue the conversation on their podcast, ‘Scientology: Fair Game.’ We’ve created a landing page where you can hear all of the episodes so far.
LEAH REMINI: SCIENTOLOGY AND THE AFTERMATH
An episode-by-episode guide to Leah Remini’s three-season, double-Emmy winning series that changed everything for Scientology watching. Originally aired from 2016 to 2019 on the A&E network, and now on Netflix.
SCIENTOLOGY’S CELEBRITIES, from A to Z
Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!
Other links: SCIENTOLOGY BLACK OPS: Tom Cruise and dirty tricks. Scientology’s Ideal Orgs, from one end of the planet to the other. Scientology’s sneaky front groups, spreading the good news about L. Ron Hubbard while pretending to benefit society. Scientology Lit: Books reviewed or excerpted in a weekly series. How many have you read?
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THE WHOLE TRACK
[ONE year ago] Tom Cruise’s Scientology superpowers, No. 11: Levitating an ashtray
[TWO years ago] The Top 25 People Enabling Scientology, No. 23: The apologist academics
[THREE years ago] Powerful testimonies about child abuse in Scientology keep coming to light
[FOUR years ago] Scientology is very worried about 75-year-old Efrem Logreira and his allegations
[FIVE years ago] The island nation that is proving to be a refuge for the Church of Scientology
[SIX years ago] Scientology’s fiery ‘Guardian’ before she hooked up with Ron, and other gems from our readers
[SEVEN years ago] With a trial looming in 6-year forced-abortion lawsuit, Scientology cries ‘but we’re a religion!’
[EIGHT years ago] Denise Brennan, 1952-2014: A former insider who exposed Scientology’s corporate shell game
[NINE years ago] In Scientology, When the Prices Kick Up, What Do You Get for the Money?
[ELEVEN years ago] The Top 25 People Crippling Scientology, No. 22: Jamie DeWolf
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Bernie Headley (1952-2019) did not see his daughter Stephanie in his final 5,667 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 2,755 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 3,260 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 2,810 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 1,800 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 1,691 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 4,996 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 2,866 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 3,640 days.
Doug Kramer has not seen his parents Linda and Norm in 1,971 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 4,444 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 3,760 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 12,326 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 8,245 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 4,413 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 3,993 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 4,255 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 3,291 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 3,006 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 2,531 days.
Julian Wain has not seen his brother Joseph or mother Susan in 886 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 2,061 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 6,612 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 3,761 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 4,081 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 8,936 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 4,055 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 2,411 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 6,714 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 2,820 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 3,218 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 3,094 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 2,677 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 3,172 days.
Mary Jane Barry has not seen her daughter Samantha in 3,426 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 14,535 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on August 13, 2022 at 07:00
E-mail tips to tonyo94 AT gmail DOT com or follow us on Twitter. We also post updates at our Facebook author page. After every new story we send out an alert to our e-mail list and our FB page.
Our new book with Paulette Cooper, Battlefield Scientology: Exposing L. Ron Hubbard’s dangerous ‘religion’ is now on sale at Amazon in paperback and Kindle formats. Our book about Paulette, The Unbreakable Miss Lovely: How the Church of Scientology tried to destroy Paulette Cooper, is on sale at Amazon in paperback, Kindle, and audiobook versions. We’ve posted photographs of Paulette and scenes from her life at a separate location. Reader Sookie put together a complete index. More information can also be found at the book’s dedicated page.
The Best of the Underground Bunker, 1995-2021 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2021), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)
Other links: BLOGGING DIANETICS: Reading Scientology’s founding text cover to cover | UP THE BRIDGE: Claire Headley and Bruce Hines train us as Scientologists | GETTING OUR ETHICS IN: Jefferson Hawkins explains Scientology’s system of justice | SCIENTOLOGY MYTHBUSTING: Historian Jon Atack discusses key Scientology concepts | Shelly Miscavige, 15 years gone | The Lisa McPherson story told in real time | The Cathriona White stories | The Leah Remini ‘Knowledge Reports’ | Hear audio of a Scientology excommunication | Scientology’s little day care of horrors | Whatever happened to Steve Fishman? | Felony charges for Scientology’s drug rehab scam | Why Scientology digs bomb-proof vaults in the desert | PZ Myers reads L. Ron Hubbard’s “A History of Man” | Scientology’s Master Spies | The mystery of the richest Scientologist and his wayward sons | Scientology’s shocking mistreatment of the mentally ill | The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ
Watch our short videos that explain Scientology’s controversies in three minutes or less…
Check your whale level at our dedicated page for status updates, or join us at the Underground Bunker’s Facebook discussion group for more frivolity.
Our non-Scientology stories: Robert Burnham Jr., the man who inscribed the universe | Notorious alt-right inspiration Kevin MacDonald and his theories about Jewish DNA | The selling of the “Phoenix Lights” | Astronomer Harlow Shapley‘s FBI file | Sex, spies, and local TV news | Battling Babe-Hounds: Ross Jeffries v. R. Don Steele
Tony Ortega at The Daily Beast
